Caster



(No Mddel.)

G. W. CURRY.

v OASTER. No. 318,963. Patented June 2, 1885.

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GEORGE W. CURRY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CASTER.

Application filed November 10, 1884.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE XV. CURRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters, of which the following is a specification.

According to my invention the caster here presented consists of a shank or spindle and socket-collar, both of novel construction and arrangement, with relation to an axis between a pair of rollers. The shank or spindle is supported below, the socket being below, and both said parts brought as near to the center line of support and rotation as possible. The shank is reversible. Either end can be journaled in the socket-collar piece. Thelatter turns freely upon the axis between the rollers, and each roller turns freely upon the said axis. By these means a caster is formed, as will hereinafter appear, which is cheap, durable, easily applied, and easy working, and which, further more, reduces the friction to a minimum, and facilitates the proper moving, handling, or transporting of the furniture article to which it is attached.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation. Figs. 2 and 3 are respective front elevations, the latter figure being the reverse of the former. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on line 4 4:, and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section showing the pair of rollers and parts between same in section.

A represents the shank or spindle. It consists of two duplicate portions forming in one rigid entirety the vertical spindle, as shown. More particularly stated, the spindle has its upper end, a, made a duplicate to its lower end, a, and in the middle are two similar shoulders, a a (See Figs. 1, 2, 8, 4.) Thus made the spindleis reversible. Either end can be used. The upper shoulder, (i serves to support the leg of the furniture, and by its lower shoulder the spindle is supported top of the socket-collar. (See Figs. 1, 2, 3, i.)

B represents the socket-collar piece in its entirety. 1) represents the tube or socket proper, and I) the journal or collar portion. The socket b is open at both ends and adapted to receive the spindle at either end. Further,

LCL LTIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,963, dated June 2, 1885.

(No model.)

at b 11 the socket presents a bearing for either shoulder of the spindle to bear upon.

0 is the horizontal axis. The collar of the socket is journaled to turn freely upon this axis. (See Figs. 4, 5.)

D Drepresent the pair of rollers, each turning freely upon the ends of the axis, as indicated.

By such a construction and arrangement of parts the weight is sustained by the lower shoulder of the spindle-bearing top of the socket, and this point of support is brought as. near to a line with the center of the caster as possible, thus reducing the friction upon the shoulders to a minimum and insuring a more 6 equal wear of said parts. It resists any lateral strain to which it may be subjected in moving the furniture, and at the same time conforms easily to the direction in which the table, chair, or article of furniture is to be 7 moved.

The caster can be pulled out from the spindle,if necessary, and reinserted when required. Either end of the spindle can be used and the spindle can be inserted in either end of 7 the socket. The upper portion of the spindle is attached to the leg of the furniture, being driven into the wood up to the shoulder, as shown. Then the socket, with wheels, &c., is applied to the projecting portion of the S spindle, and when the lower shoulder of the latter bears or rests upon the top of the socket the caster is ready to conform to any direction with great facility.

My said improvements possess the further advantages of being adapted to make casters of the usual varying kinds or classes, and can be easily modified to suit the requirements of the various articles to which it is customary to attach casters. 9

What I claim is- 1. In an improved caster, the combination of a reversible shank or spindle, and the re versible socket-collar supported to turn on rollers, substantially as and for the purposes 9 set forth.

2. The combination of the shank or spindle having shoulders at a a", the socket-collar piece B, consisting of a socket, b, open at both ends, and the collar I), mounted to turn 1 on the axis of a pair of rollers, substantially In testimony of said invention Ihave heres and for the purposes set forth. unto set my hand. I

3. The combination, with a pair of rollers, of the axis 0, carrying the socket-collar piece GEORGE \V'. CURRY. 5 13, consisting of the socket I), open at both ends, and its collar 11, the latter turning freely Witnesses: on said axis, substantially as and for the pur- \VILLIAM W'. HERTHEL, poses set forth. JOHN W. HERTHEL. 

